No. We lack the freedom to marry, which has been identified as one of the most central and defining freedoms an individual possesses. When the government denies it, a central aspect of someone's autonomy has been withheld. It takes a while to wrap your head around.

But yes in the sense you can live where you want, change your job if you want, etc but of course if you don't have money then these freedoms don't really exist for you either.

by Anonymous

reply 5

11/11/2013

American gays have a lot more freedom, self-esteem, and social outlets than in many places. Conditions are not perfect but improving.

by Anonymous

reply 6

11/11/2013

Free to be, you and me!

by Anonymous

reply 7

11/11/2013

Simply pointing out that there are people worse off elsewhere doesn't really answer the question, r6. American blacks had a lot more freedom, self-esteem and social outlets in the 50s than, say, someone living in a communist gulag and you could also describe the situation as "not perfect but improving." It just seems kind of wrong-headed imho.

by Anonymous

reply 8

11/11/2013

I'm not free, but I'm cheap.

by Anonymous

reply 10

11/11/2013

No one said there were no other pressing issues in the world, r9.

Even during the civil rights movement there were 'more pressing' issues, like nuclear proliferation, the Cold War, and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. During the fight for women's suffrage, there were other pressing issues. And so on.

Not sure why some people always feel the urgent need to downplay the shit that gets dumped on gays, but there it is.

by Anonymous

reply 11

11/11/2013

[quote]some people always feel the urgent need to downplay

Exactly, these people are the enemy, setting a 'so what' narrative.

by Anonymous

reply 12

11/11/2013

Nope. Gay Americans can't marry in 34 states. They can be fired at will at their place of employment solely because they are gay. They can be refused service at establishments solely because they are gay. Depending on their states discrimination policies, but if they are not in place, gay people have no legal rights to sue regardless of the situation.

Gay people also get violently attacked for showing affection in public even places like New York City.

40% of homeless teens are LGBT youth.

by Anonymous

reply 13

11/11/2013

[quote]Even as a gay person America has more pressing issues, like the crippling debt of an education and the problem with our healthcare system where having the audacity to get sick or injured can ruin you financially.

This statement is why gay people are still not free in America. And, might never be.

by Anonymous

reply 14

11/11/2013

I am free regardless of social mores.

by Anonymous

reply 15

11/11/2013

Nobody in America is free.

by Anonymous

reply 16

11/11/2013

North Korea publicly executed around 80 people earlier this month, many for watching smuggled South Korean TV shows, a South Korean newspaper reported Monday.

The conservative JoongAng Ilbo cited a single, unidentified source, but at least one North Korean defector group said it had heard rumours that lent credibility to the front-page report.

The source, said to be "familiar" with the North's internal affairs and recently returned from the country, said the executions were carried out in seven cities on November 3.

[bold]In the eastern port of Wonsan, the authorities gathered 10,000 people in a sports stadium to watch the execution of eight people by firing squad,[/bold] the source quoted one eyewitness as saying.

Most were charged with watching illicit South Korean TV dramas, and some with prostitution.

by Anonymous

reply 17

11/11/2013

We have more laws than any other country, and more people in prison per-capita than any other country.

How are we a "free" country?

by Anonymous

reply 18

11/11/2013

r18, please provide an example of a truly "free" country on planet earth.

by Anonymous

reply 19

11/11/2013

[OP}: "suppose to be"

by Anonymous

reply 20

11/11/2013

Yall think its sucks for gays now?!? Its worlds away better than 35-40 years ago when the only gay characters you saw were Liberace and Miss Simmons!The advances in acceptance is astounding to people of my generation.Gay proms? Gay shows on regular tv? Gay politicians? All inconceivable! Quit bitching about what you dont have and celebrate how far youve come!And remember this...the "old" bitches you laugh at and put down and make fun of were YOU at one time,and because of them you have what you do.

by Anonymous

reply 21

11/11/2013

I find the fact that OP was denied his right to an education to be more troubling.

by Anonymous

reply 22

11/11/2013

Oh, please, unless you are filthy rich, NONE of us are free. Join the club. Won't change for another two thousand years.

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